What it means to be an Animal Lover

Balu spent more than a decade saving money to buy an ambulance. He’s now spent the last 10 years driving his ambulance around Pune, India rescuing homeless dogs and cats.

Not only does he take the injured animals to veterinarians and animal hospitals, when the shelters are full he brings them home. He charges less than five dollars to pet owners to transport their companions.

“I decided that I’m not going to do anything else. Whatever I do has to be with animals.”

Thank you for giving a voice to the voiceless, Balu! Watch his story here.

So what’s the easiest and most helpful act we can do here in the US to help our companion animals? Never support breeders, and encourage your friends and family to adopt from shelters as well. And always spay and neuter.

Over 6 million dogs and cats enter shelters each year because there simply aren’t enough homes for them. At least 3 million of those are euthanized. Every dog purchased by a breeder means a shelter dog has lost her chance. If you a have a friend who is stuck on getting a certain breed, remind them that most full-bred dogs have serious health issues, and also that 25% of dogs in shelters are purebred. There are plenty of breed-specific rescues organizations to adopt from as well. If you love a specific breed that much, don’t send one to be euthanized by supporting a breeder.

It’s impossible to know just how many stray dogs and cats live in the US, but estimates for cats alone are around 70 million. The cost of spaying and neutering is much less than the cost of raising puppies or kittens for a year, and many animal organizations offer low cost and sometimes free days.

If you want to make a bigger splash, look up rescue organizations in your community and help promote the animals they have up for adoption (and maybe consider fostering)!